Hog Island and Detroit’s ‘park question’: A brief history of Belle Isle - Detroit River Story Lab

Hog Island and Detroit’s ‘park question’: A brief history of Belle Isle

When the gun smoke ceased just before 1845, the island became a popular spot for romantic picnics. So the city announced it would change the name. 

In 1870, Detroit had a problem. The City Council had the desire and funds to build a leisure park in downtown Detroit, but could not settle on a location. Quarrels over the matter permeated Detroit newspapers for years in what reporters dubbed “The Park Question”. 

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